DOVVSU Office faces logistical constraints
The lack of vehicles, shelter, computers and investigators are hampering the smooth operations of the Western Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).
Assistant superintendent of Police (ASP) Lawrence Gbele, Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, told the Ghana News Agency the Unit did not have a vehicle for monitoring the activities of the seven DOVVSU centres in the region.
He said the absence of a vehicle is also impeding investigations as well as hampering effective supervision.
ASP Gbele lamented that sometimes victims of domestic violence brought to the Unit had to be conveyed awkwardly in commercial vehicles to health facilities thereby worsening their health condition.
The Regional Coordinator added that the Unit did not have a facility to accommodate victims waiting to make complaints and such persons had to stand or squat at the precincts of the offices till he/she was called.
“It’s pity that we do not even have a shed to accommodate people who come here to make reports, sometimes this place turns into a market with a lot of people hanging around without a place to sit while waiting for their turn,” he said.
ASP Gbele appealed to corporate organizations and philanthropists to assist the Unit to function effectively.
He said though the Unit did not have adequate investigators he expressed the hope that the recruitment exercise being undertaken by the Ghana Police Service would soon solve the problem.
Source: GNA
Security agencies to deploy boats to check overloading on Volta
Lake
Security agencies operating in communities along the Volta River basin have been advised to use patrol boats to check overloading and other activities that led to accidents on the water body.
Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Out-going Eastern Regional Minister gave the advice at a community forum organised by the Management of Volta River Authority (VRA) at Akuse in the Eastern Region on Tuesday.
The forum formed part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of the VRA.
Mr Ampofo expressed the view that services of the security agencies could be utilised to clamp down on accidents recorded on the lake.
“We are able to use personnel from the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service to check overloading to reduce the carnage on our roads.
“We can also consider the possibility of using such security agencies like the Ghana Navy to serve as ‘MTTU’ on the water body to help check overloading in order to avert deaths of school children and pregnant women,” he said.
Mr Ampofo commended VRA for its highly skilled human resource base and charged the authority to use cutting-edge technology as a tool to keep apace with the demands of modern society.
He extolled the support and sacrifice of traditional rulers of communities in which VRA operated.
Mr Ampofo stressed that without the support, VRA could not have chalked out their successes.
Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, Chief Executive Officer of VRA, observed that management had acquired a lot of experience in their area of operations and expressed the commitment of the authority to use the human resource at its disposal to rethink ways of doing positive things for economic development.
He said management was committed towards supporting communities in areas such as environmental improvement, social welfare, public health, education, electricity, potable water supply and sanitation.
“We continue to provide annual commitment of the cedi equivalent of $500, 000 to the VRA Resettlement Fund to support 52 resettlement towns.”
Mr Awotwi said with effect from this year, management the VRA had instituted jubilee scholarship scheme for 50 pupils in communities in Akosombo, Akuse, Aboadze and Tema.
“The beneficiaries will be the best 50 Basic Education Certificate Examination pupils in the communities this year. The scholarship scheme is tenable at the Senior High School level,” he added.
Source: GNA